Baghdad - The United States has agreed to three out of the five amendments that Iraq made to a long-term security pact between the two countries, the semi-official Iraqi al-Sabah newspaper reported on Monday.

The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) aims to regulate the future of US troops in Iraq after the UN mandate expires at the end of
2008.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said he expects a reply from Washington soon on amendments to the pact which Iraq proposed last week.

The US still insists on immunity for US soldiers in Iraq. According to the US constitution, US citizens who commit crimes in other countries should be judged according to US law, an Iraqi source told al-Sabah.

After a pact is signed, the US would withdraw its troops from Iraq in 36 months, the source added.

British Ambassador in Iraq Christopher Prentice told the Kurdish newspaper al-Taakhi that Britain was keen on reaching an agreement with the Iraqi government since "very little time remains until the end of this year." (dpa)